The Ebners have been a meat family for generations. Mike Ebner's grandfather started a meat company in 1940, and his sons, including Mike's dad, worked there too. Growing up, for Mike, was inextricably tied to learning about meat: the different cuts, the signs of a good steak, the processing of wild game.

Today, he puts that long-held knowledge to use at his own meat business, Ebner's Custom Meats. The company's selection—all of which is local and natural—ranges from flavored sausages and specialty jerky to cuts of goat, pork, chicken, and steak. Visitors can buy these at the butcher's counter, or head to the deli for meaty sandwiches enhanced with horseradish and pepperoncini, rather than just with a big gift bow.